Chapter 190: A New Era
“This is Starlight Academy!”
As Fei Laming gazed at the vast Academy and the majestic gate before him, he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
Around him, other young boys and girls curiously surveyed their surroundings, some gazes fixed on the tall tower in the distance.
Even from over a thousand meters away, its massive outline was visible, making them realize just how enormous it truly was.
Its strange shape also sparked their curiosity.
Gathered here were all the eligible children who had recently passed the Aptitude Test, all aged between twelve and fifteen.
They had assembled in Flash City from across the Empire and were brought to this strange base, passing through a peculiar gate before arriving here.
Many struggled to comprehend how merely passing through a door could transport them to such a different environment, where an Academy suddenly appeared before them.
This novel experience filled everyone with wonder, heightening their excitement and anticipation about the legendary Wizard Academy.
They appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing gray robes. Their eyes were deep and bright, possessing a strange light that made others hesitant to meet their gaze.
As they approached, the young boys and girls immediately fell silent, all eyes fixed on the two figures.
If nothing else, these must be the representatives from the Academy come to welcome them.
"I am Xie Qin, Blade, and this is Du Weini, Tredway. We will guide you on a tour of the Academy. Please remain silent during the tour, do not ask any questions, and do not touch anything, or you will face the consequences," Xie Qin stated expressionlessly, before turning to head back toward the Academy gate.
"Follow us!"
The young boys and girls exchanged glances but obediently followed them.
"He seems difficult to talk to," Duo Nuohan whispered to Fei Laming.
Fei Laming nodded in agreement.
He had heard there were many aloof individuals among the Wizard Apprentices, and perhaps this senior student, Xie Qin, was one of them.
In contrast, the senior sister, Du Weini, seemed to possess a friendly demeanor and had even smiled at them.
Passing through the gate, a vast expanse opened up before them.
Buildings of peculiar styles were scattered throughout their view, immediately capturing the attention of the young boys and girls.
On the wide streets, many Apprentices hurried about, glancing at the newcomers before shifting their gazes indifferently.
"Caw caw!"
A slightly harsh cry rang out from above.
Fei Laming looked up and spotted over a dozen crows circling in the sky.
What was startling was that these crows were unusually large, with scales covering their bodies and blood-red pupils.
"Those are Red-eyed Crows," Du Weini explained, noticing the newcomers' gazes. "They serve as monitors for the Academy. Any student who violates the rules under their watch will face consequences."
"Don't underestimate them; these Red-eyed Crows are very intelligent."
The crowd regarded the Red-eyed Crows with more serious expressions, their demeanor shifting noticeably.
"This is the Library. The books on the first floor can be borrowed for free, but they can only be read inside the premises. Books on the Second Level and above require a fee."
"This is the Teaching Building, where you will have your classes in the future. The bulletin board at the entrance displays the class schedule for the coming week. You are free to choose the courses you wish to take. Basic courses are free, while advanced ones require payment."
"That's the Task Hall. You can take on missions there to earn Contribution Points. While the Academy provides some free resources, most, especially mid- and high-level resources, require Contribution Points for exchange."
Xie Qin's demeanor was cold, but he was very dutiful. Along the way, he provided detailed explanations each time they passed a location.
However, Fei Laming suspected he must have taken on a so-called mission, which was why he was being so diligent.
"Although the Academy allows all Apprentices to accept missions, there are very few suitable for new students. I recommend focusing on your studies in the beginning. Once you have attained a certain level of strength, it will be more efficient to take on missions," Du Weini suggested with a smile.
"Besides, many basic resources can be exchanged for Gold Coins at the start. If a problem can be solved with a little Gold Coin, don’t waste your time and energy."
Many of the new students nodded in agreement.
“Only a few freshmen, dressed in ordinary clothes, seemed to struggle, remaining silent. They didn’t have many Gold Coins on hand.
Soon, the group arrived at a large plaza. At its center stood a giant Crystal Ball, with more than a dozen students lined up in front of it.
“That is the Attribute Crystal Ball. It can measure your attributes as a Wizard Apprentice, including your Physique, Spiritual Power, and health status, presenting the results in data form,” explained Du Weini as she pointed to the Crystal Ball.
“Once you begin cultivating, you can use the Attribute Crystal Ball to test yourself periodically, which will help you better understand your cultivation progress,” she added.
As soon as she finished speaking, a freshman spoke up eagerly. “Senior, can we try it?”
Du Weini glanced at Xie Qin. When she saw no reaction from him, she nodded with a smile. “Sure, but you can’t take too long—just half an hour.”
With permission granted, many freshmen eagerly left the queue to join the line. Fortunately, the individual usage time for the Attribute Crystal Ball wasn’t long, and after more than ten minutes, it was the freshmen's turn.
Fei Laming was the first to step forward. Following Du Weini's instructions, he pressed his palm against the surface of the Crystal Ball. He felt a slight electric shock through his palm, and soon a line of text appeared on the Crystal Ball.
Physique: 2.2, Spirit: 0.7
[Body condition: Healthy. Right arm tendons slightly strained; expected to recover naturally in two days.]
[High Fire Elemental Affinity aptitude; suitable for cultivating Fire magic.]
Fei Laming felt a twinge of surprise. A few days ago, while practicing martial arts, he had accidentally strained his right arm. Based on his past experiences with injuries, he expected to recover in two days. He hadn’t anticipated that the Attribute Crystal Ball would detect even this. This Crystal Ball truly is magical!
"But what does the last sentence mean?" Fei Laming wondered to himself. He turned to see Xie Qin and Du Weini looking at him with strange expressions, their eyes hinting at... envy?
“What is your name?” Xie Qin asked unexpectedly, his tone noticeably kinder.
“Fei Laming.”
“Fei Laming, junior, you have great talent,” said Xie Qin sincerely.
Seeing Fei Laming's confused expression, Xie Qin patiently explained, “Elemental Affinity refers to a connection with certain energy particles. The higher the affinity, the easier it is to manipulate the corresponding energy particles, allowing one to learn related spells more quickly.
“In general, a wizard apprentice with Elemental Affinity will have a significant advantage in cultivation, reaping many benefits.”
“However, individuals who possess Elemental Affinity are extremely rare. You may not find even one among a hundred wizard apprentices.”
Hearing this, the gazes of the other new students toward Fei Laming immediately became tinged with envy and jealousy.
Fei Laming was also somewhat stunned. So, according to this, he was a genius?
Afterward, more new students were tested, but no one else was found to share Fei Laming's Elemental Affinity.
Half an hour later, Xie Qin interrupted the testing and led the new students to their accommodations.
They arrived at a castle-style dormitory, where two tall steel golems stood guard at the entrance.
“This is the dormitory. You will be living here for the next few years until you advance to Second Level Wizard Apprentice.”
Many new students had already acquired information about wizard apprentices through various channels before coming here, including the ranking of their strength levels.
As soon as Xie Qin finished speaking, one of the new students couldn’t help but raise their hand to ask a question.
“Senior, where do Second Level Wizard Apprentices live?”
“Dragon Bone Tower,” Xie Qin replied succinctly, directing his gaze toward a distant point. His usually expressionless face revealed an unmistakable yearning.
Even Du Weini seemed affected, his eyes sparkling with longing.
Following their gaze, many new students quickly realized that the tall tower they had vaguely seen earlier at the academy gate was likely the Dragon Bone Tower Xie Qin mentioned.
The eyes of many new students from prominent noble families flickered with intrigue. They suddenly wondered if that legendary figure also resided in Dragon Bone Tower.
“Is Dragon Bone Tower better than the academy?” one asked.
“Nonsense! It’s a place only Second Level Wizard Apprentices can enter, of course, it's better,” another replied.
“I want to go there too in the future,” chimed in yet another.
The new students buzzed with excitement, many itching to try their luck and showing visible signs of longing.
But Xie Qin quickly cut through their enthusiasm.
"Many talented students at the Academy have cultivated for over a decade and still haven't advanced to the Second Level of Wizard Apprenticeship. It is too early for you to think about living in Dragon Bone Tower. You should first focus on mastering the basics of Star Ring Meditation."
"Don't say I didn't warn you: according to the Academy's rules, anyone who hasn't grasped the fundamentals of Star Ring Meditation within three months will be expelled."
Upon hearing this, the new students immediately tensed up.
They had distinguished themselves from hundreds of thousands of peers, carrying the hopes of their families and relatives as they entered Starlight Academy. If they were expelled, not only would they lose face, but their families would also be shamed.
This was something they simply could not accept!
"Alright, no need to be so nervous," Du Weini said with a smile, attempting to ease the atmosphere.
"Generally, most people grasp the basics of Star Ring Meditation within one or two months, so you don’t need to worry too much."
"Now, everyone should go and collect your Key. You'll have twenty minutes to return to your dorms and put away your luggage. After that, we'll take you to the cafeteria."
The new students responded enthusiastically and rushed into the dormitories like a swarm of bees.
A few of them curiously approached the Steel Golem, which slightly turned its head, its gaze sweeping over the newcomers before returning to its original position.
Meanwhile, three individuals stood by a window in a building three to four hundred meters away, observing the actions of the new cohort.
"Two hundred and forty-three students—this year's cohort is quite large," Rose remarked.
"After all, this is the first Aptitude Test of the Prosperous Star Empire. It's normal for the numbers to be a bit higher," Scepter replied with a smile.
In the days of the old Starry Sky Empire, attracting more than ten new students a year was considered an achievement.
But now, with the addition of two-thirds of the former territory of the Azure Gold Empire Three Points, this land—having never held an Aptitude Test before—was guaranteed to have the highest number of students passing the first test.
Next year's Aptitude Test is likely to see a significant drop in new students.
"I never thought I would see so many Wizard Apprentices in one place," a look of nostalgia crossed Traveler's face. "Just thinking about how these students could grow into Second Level Wizard Apprentices in the future makes me feel like I'm witnessing a new era."
A hint of sentimentality also appeared on the faces of Rose and Scepter, who wholeheartedly agreed with Traveler's words.
In their era, the Wizard Apprentices mostly operated behind the scenes.
Even among the nobles, only a small fraction knew of the Wizard Apprentices' existence.
But now, while commoners might still be unaware of them, among the nobility, the Wizard Apprentices were no longer a secret.
The establishment and recruitment of Starlight Academy gradually brought the Wizard Apprentices into the public eye.
It was foreseeable that, given time, the Wizard Apprentices would become known to more and more people across the continent.
The era belonging to Wizards would soon arrive.
And all of this was brought about by Su Nan.
He transformed the existence of the Wizard Apprentices, allowing more individuals to join this group and expanding their influence.
"These students have it so much better than we did," Rose sighed. "Back when I was a First Level Wizard Apprentice, there weren't nearly as many potions to improve meditation efficiency."
Traveler nodded in agreement. "These youngsters cultivate so much faster than we did. I heard that two of Lord Su Nan's students only took five years to advance to Second Level Wizard Apprentice. In the past, that kind of speed was unimaginable."
"You're talking about Xie Man and Cole, right?" Scepter chuckled. "Those two are naturally gifted, and with the support of Academy resources, it's highly likely they'll advance to Level Three Wizard Apprentice before they turn fifty."
Traveler's expression became momentarily complicated. He had been nearly eighty when he advanced to Level Three Wizard Apprentice.
It could only be said that he hadn't lived in a fortunate era.
But soon, his spirits lifted again.
With the support of Academy resources, his cultivation efficiency had increased several times.
Although advancing to Wizard before the end of his lifespan remained extremely difficult, at least he could see hope.
For this reason alone, he felt that joining Starlight Academy was a wise choice.
"Alright, it’s time to go back and prepare," Rose stretched, revealing her graceful curves. "With the new students enrolling, the basic course hours have increased significantly. We'll be busy for a while."
Though she said this, Rose’s face showed no sign of difficulty; instead, it was full of delight.
After all, as instructors, a significant portion of their Contribution Points came from teaching.
The more courses they offered, the more Contribution Points they could earn to exchange for resources.
"Whether it was the Transcendental Potion, the Magic Pattern Core, or even the Construct Potion and Talent Crystal Model, the Contribution Points required for exchange were astronomical.
Especially the latter; acquiring it would take an extraordinarily long time of service in the Academy.
Nonetheless, they were fully willing.
In the past, they wouldn't even have had the means to earn enough points to exchange for these items, even if they had desired them."
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